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Periodontist Plano, TX | Gum Disease Treatment

By David Wilhite DDS – Plano Texas Dentist

Have you been told you have periodontal gum disease? Well, you’re not alone – an estimated 80% of American adults have some form of periodontal gum disease whose symptoms include:

Bad breath that won’t go away

Tender or bleeding gums

Red or swollen gums

Painful chewing

Loose teeth and/or sensitive teeth

Periodontal disease is a major cause of tooth loss in adults. Early and moderate periodontal disease may exhibit few, if any, symptoms. However, warning signs of advanced periodontal disease may include red, swollen, or bleeding gums; persistent bad breath; permanent teeth that are loose or separating; or changes in the way your teeth fit together when you bite.

There are many stages and forms of periodontal disease, including:

Gingivitis

Periodontitis

If left untreated, gum infection damages bone & supporting tissue.

Advanced Periodontitis

At this stage, gums recede further and separate from the tooth.

How Periodontal Gum Disease Treatment Works:

The goal of periodontal therapy is to prevent tooth loss. Healthy gum tissue fits like a cuff around each tooth. Where the gum line meets the tooth, it forms a slight v-shaped crevice called a sulcus. In healthy teeth, this space (“pocket”) is usually three millimeters deep or less. To evaluate the healthiness of your smile, we measure your periodontal pockets on your first visit, and then regularly thereafter. When the pockets measure more than three millimeters, it is time to take action to make sure your gums get back to a healthy state.

Scaling and root-planing – This is the first non-surgical step Dr. Wilhite may take to remove plaque and tartar deposits on your tooth and root surfaces. This procedure helps your gum tissue to heal and pockets to shrink.

Antibiotic therapy – Dr. Wilhite may also recommend medications to help control infection and pain, or to aid healing. These medications could include a mouth rinse, or a antibiotic Dr. Wilhite or his hygienist will place directly in the periodontal pocket after scaling and root-planing.